Cellular extension of wireless local area networks
First Claim
1. A method of interfacing a first local area network (LAN) with a remote LAN, wherein said first LAN includes a cellular-enabled LAN device for communicating with a cellular network, and wherein said cellular network includes a core data network including a bridge, said method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a bridge identifier to identify said bridge within said core data network within said cellular network;
said cellular-enabled LAN device originating a call to said bridge by dialing said bridge identifier;
interconnecting said remote LAN with said bridge in response to said bridge identifier;
said cellular-enabled LAN device monitoring destination addresses in first LAN network packets originating in said first LAN and echoing to said bridge only first LAN network packets having a destination address outside said first LAN;
said remote LAN receiving said echoed first LAN network packets from said bridge;
echoing remote LAN network packets originating in said remote LAN from said bridge to said cellular-enabled LAN device; and
said cellular-enabled LAN device receiving said echoed remote LAN network packets from said bridge and transmitting them within said first LAN.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless local area network (WLAN) is linked with a remote LAN to transport data packets therebetween. The WLAN includes a cellular-enabled WLAN device for communicating with a cellular network and the cellular network includes a bridge. A bridge identifier associated with the bridge is established within the cellular network. The cellular-enabled WLAN device and the remote LAN are interconnected with the bridge in response to the cellular-enabled device signaling the cellular network with the bridge identifier. The cellular-enabled WLAN device echoes WLAN network packets originating in the WLAN to the bridge. The remote LAN receives the echoed WLAN network packets from the bridge. Packets originating in the remote LAN are echoed by the bridge to the cellular-enabled WLAN device. The cellular-enabled WLAN device receives the echoed remote LAN network packets from the bridge and transmits them within the WLAN.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of interfacing a first local area network (LAN) with a remote LAN, wherein said first LAN includes a cellular-enabled LAN device for communicating with a cellular network, and wherein said cellular network includes a core data network including a bridge, said method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a bridge identifier to identify said bridge within said core data network within said cellular network; said cellular-enabled LAN device originating a call to said bridge by dialing said bridge identifier; interconnecting said remote LAN with said bridge in response to said bridge identifier; said cellular-enabled LAN device monitoring destination addresses in first LAN network packets originating in said first LAN and echoing to said bridge only first LAN network packets having a destination address outside said first LAN; said remote LAN receiving said echoed first LAN network packets from said bridge; echoing remote LAN network packets originating in said remote LAN from said bridge to said cellular-enabled LAN device; and said cellular-enabled LAN device receiving said echoed remote LAN network packets from said bridge and transmitting them within said first LAN. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Network apparatus comprising:
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a cellular system for wirelessly exchanging data with mobile transceivers; and a core data network having a plurality of data interfaces for exchanging data packets with said cellular system, wherein said core data network includes a bridge controller for establishing routes for data packets corresponding to respective bridge identifiers when requested by at least one of said mobile transceivers; wherein said cellular system is configured to receive a call from a plurality of cellular-enabled LAN devices to associate with a respective one of said bridge identifiers, and wherein said core data network is configured to echo data packets received from one of the cellular-enabled LAN devices to other cellular-enabled LAN devices associated with said respective bridge identifier. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated cellular phone and wireless local area network (WLAN) portable device for interconnecting with a remote LAN via a cellular network, wherein said cellular network includes a core data network, comprising:
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a WLAN node for exchanging local data packets within a wireless LAN; voice apparatus for separately conducting a voice call within said cellular network; a cellular modem for exchanging remote data packets with said cellular network; a user interface including a predetermined key for initiating a bridge request; a processor coupled to said WLAN node and said cellular modem for requesting a bridge within said core data network to a remote LAN by transmitting a bridge identifier to said cellular network in response to activation of said predetermined key and for causing at least a portion of said local data packets to be forwarded to said bridge via said cellular modem; and a LAN bridge indicator for generating a visual display when said bridge is active. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification